Keats: Ode to a Nightingale - A Grecian Urn. A comparison.

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 1999 , 18 Pages , Grade: 1 - (A-)

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Favourite topics of the ode are God, religion, the state, Art, Nature, truth, love, enjoyment of life, or fame after death. This variety of themes displays that odes can be used for various occasions.
Keats' odes are mainly poetic meditations about eternity, permanence, transitoriness and (everlasting) beauty. Some of his odes are therefore connected with mythological topics, and others remind of Wordsworth's concept of Nature.

Table of Contents

• Ode to a Nightingale & Ode on a Grecian Urn - A Comparison
• Ode to a Nightingale
• 1
• Ode on a Grecian Urn

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay analyzes two famous odes by John Keats, "Ode to a Nightingale" and "Ode on a Grecian Urn," exploring the poet's style and main themes. The focus is on the tension between the world of being (earthly life) and the world of flux (eternal life) and how Keats utilizes symbols, imagery, and structure to explore these concepts. The essay also delves into the poet's exploration of ideal beauty, the role of Nature, and the power of Art.

• The tension between permanence and transience
• The pursuit of ideal beauty
• The role of symbols and mythology
• The relationship between Art and Nature
• The speaker's experience of happiness and melancholy

Chapter Summaries

The first chapter, "Ode to a Nightingale," explores the poet's emotional journey as he experiences the nightingale's song. The speaker's melancholic state, fueled by both admiration and envy for the bird's happiness, leads him to contemplate the beauty of nature and the fleeting nature of earthly existence. The chapter analyzes the poem's structure, imagery, and symbolism, particularly focusing on the nightingale as a symbol of both transient life and enduring beauty.

Keywords

The key themes and concepts explored in this essay include: odes, John Keats, beauty, nature, art, permanence, transience, symbolism, mythology, the nightingale, the Grecian urn, ideal beauty, and the tension between the material and the immaterial world.

• College: University of Stuttgart (Literature Studies)
• Grade: 1 - (A-)
• Author: MA Susanne Kaufmann (Author)
• Publication Year: 1999
• Pages: 18
• Catalog Number: V24096
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638270557
• ISBN (Book): 9783638771795
• Language: English
• Tags: Keats, Nightingale, Grecian